An anonymous threat to ‘massacre’ youngsters at Montgomery High School in Bispham has sparked a manhunt.

A series of messages have been posted on Facebook by a poster The Gazette has chosen not to name, who said he plans to ‘kill as many people as possible’ at the school on Monday in revenge for alleged bullying.

We are satisfied the police are doing everything possible to investigate and protect, and they are providing strong support in order to help us to safely open the school as normal

School principal Tony Nicholson

Although police said there is nothing to suggest the threat is credible, security measures are being put in place in case officers are unable to track the people behind the postings down over the weekend.

School principal Tony Nicholson said police were called in as soon as the threats were spotted and described the safety of staff and pupils as ‘paramount’.

He told parents in a statement released earlier tonight: “I can assure you all efforts are being made by both the academy trust and the police to identify the source and nature of the postings.

“We are satisfied the police are doing everything possible to investigate and protect, and they are providing strong support in order to help us to safely open the school as normal on Monday morning.”

In the messages, the poster praises Columbine Massacre gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who murdered 12 students and one teacher at their school in 1999, and said: “These guys are great. They killed a bunch of people in their high school and then killed themselves.

“Huge inspiration for the #MontyMassacre on Monday.”

In subsequent postings he added: “On Monday, the bullies will be sorry when I go into school with a gun.

“I’ll kill as many people as possible.

In another, he praised Sandy Hook Elementary School gunman Adam Lanza, who killed 20 children and six members of staff during his 2012 rampage in the US, saying: “I love guys that have the balls to pull something like this off, and on Monday I’ll be added to that list of people.

When challenged by one student, he asked: “You think it’s a joke? You’ll see bullets, bodies, and blood.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We are aware of the posts and are investigating them but at this time there is nothing to suggest they are credible. “Notwithstanding, if the matter is not resolved by Monday, we will ensure an appropriate police response on Monday morning to ensure the safety of all persons in the school.”